March 8, 2002
Box Score
FRESNO, Calif. - Baylor freshman left-hander Cristin Vitek held No. 10 Fresno State to two hits with a career-high 10 strikeouts here Friday night as the Lady Bears shocked the Bulldogs 2-1 in eight innings at the Hallowell Classic.
With the win, Baylor improves to 26-5 on the season. Fresno State drops to 16-6 with its first loss in seven games and its first loss at home since losing to Hawai'I 4-0 April 14, 2000.
It was a battle of freshman hurlers as Vitek (10-2) squared off against this week's NFCA Player of the Week, Jamie Southern. But Vitek was the star on this night, carrying a perfect game into the sixth inning.
With two outs in the sixth, Fresno State left fielder Julie Selbicky tripled over Sarah Caudle's head in right to break up the perfect game. Stacey Hundley bobbled Caudle's relay to the infield and an alert Selbicky raced home, seemingly put an end to Vitek's gem.
However, the Lady Bears battled back in the top of the seventh. With two outs and Carrie Leerberg on first, Holly Fields got a pinch-hit single to right field. FSU right fielder Mitzi Ing misplayed the ball, allowing Leerberg to score.
After Vitek set the Bulldogs down in order in the bottom of the seventh, the international tiebreaker rule was put into affect in the eighth. Kourtny Westerfeld led off with a bloop bunt that made its way over Southern and in for a base hit, allowing Kim Wilmoth to move from second to third on the play. April Luce then flied out to right field, scoring Wilmoth.
Vitek continued her dominance in the bottom of the eighth. Lori Hoffman led off with a single that dropped in front of Leerberg in left, with the hit in doubt, Sha Oliver was forced to hold at second. Pam West struck out and Pam Perez advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Vitek then ended the game with her 10th strikeout, fanning Leticia Pacheco for the second time in the game.
For the game, Vitek allowed one unearned run on two hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts. Southern(11-3) allowed two unearned runs on four hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts.
Baylor returns to action here Saturday, facing Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at 11 a.m. CST and San Diego State at 7 p.m. The Lady Bears defeated San Diego State 5-1 three weeks ago at the Compass Bank Invitational in Waco.
